B.C. NDP government makes progress on trucking commitments

VANCOUVER—The wage increases and enhanced resources for reliable enforcement measures announced today by the Government of British Columbia will help container truckers earn a decent living and move closer towards peace at Vancouver’s ports, says Unifor.

“Unifor worked hard to negotiate a plan that all sides agreed to,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unlike its predecessors, this government is moving to faithfully implement the signed plan.”

After the last lengthy job action at Port Metro Vancouver in 2014, Unifor pushed the B.C. Liberal government to sign an agreement that would resolve wage undercutting by trucking companies and long wait times. Unifor, the Port, the B.C. government, and the federal government all signed the Joint Action Plan, but poor provincial enforcement has created more problems.

Today’s announcement by Transportation Minister Claire Travena commits to an expedited review of hauling rates. In the meantime rates will increase by 2.6 per cent, more resources will go to the Office of Container Truck Commissioner for enforcement and auditing.

“A major pillar of the 2014 Joint Action Plan was to regulate all trips, including ‘round-trip’ payments, so that all aspects of drivers’ work would be properly compensated,” added Paul Johal, Unifor-Vancouver Container Truckers Association President. “Today’s announcement will get us a step closer to the goal of fairness for truckers.”

“The industry has a plan signed by workers and two levels of government. The only thing missing to this point was a backbone in B.C. Liberal cabinet ministers,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s BC Area Director.

Since the Container TruckingAct was introduced in 2014, Unifor has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to drivers. The Commissioner has levied numerous fines and over $2.3 million in wages to drivers. More than one out of every three companies tried to short-change drivers in spite of the new law.